Steering-indicator.



F B. MILLS. STEERING INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED-1113.7. 1912.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

I F ra/nk 3. Mills.

Wilma/sow after/"Mp:

' Q collision;

. FRANK B. MiLLs, or CHICAGO, rumors.

STEERING-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

Application filed February 7, 1912. Serial No. 678,075

To all whom it mag concern: J

Be it known that I, FRANK B. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, inthe county. of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steering indicators for automobiles and other vehicles, the

g-device being designed to indicate the direction inwhich the driver is about to turn the wheels, so as to serve as a warning to another vehicle following behind, and thus avoid a It'is the'object of'the invention to provide a device o'f'the kind stated which is simple in construction, easily operated, and

' eflicient and reliable in operation.

" The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showingthe application of the invention.- Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 3' is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a perspec tive View ofthe circuit-controlling device separated,

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5

- denotes'the body of an automobile or other vehicle. To the bottom of said body, at its rear end, is secured, by means of a suitable bracket 6,* a tubular member 7, in which latter: is mounted, so as to be free to rock therein, a tubular shaft 8, said parts extending in the. direction of the length of the vehicle. On the forward end of the member 7 is slidably mounted a disk- 9 of insulation having embedded in one of its faces two diametrically opposite contacts 10.

The, shaft 8 projects from this end of the member 7 and carries a disk 11 of insulation which is made fast to the shaft by a screw or other suitable means 12. This disk is lo,- cated adjacent to the disk 9 and has one of '45 its faces contiguous to that face of said disk 9 carrying the contacts 10, and provided with diametrically opposite contacts 13. The disk. 9 is yieldingly held against the disk 11 by a coiled' spring 14:, one end of 0 which is fastened to the member 7 and'its other end pressing against the rear face of the disk'9. The rear end of the'shaft 8 pro- -jects from the corresponding end of the member 7 and carries a set collar-15 which abuts a ainst said end. of the member 7, said co ar, in conjunction with the disk 11,

preventing longitudinal movement of the shaft 8 relative to the member 7.

The rear end of the shaft 8 terminates in an upward bond 16 behind the back of the body 5, and carries a light 17, which latter may be anordinaryincandescent lamp, the

- current wires ofwhich are inclosed 1n the shaft 8, and connected to the contacts 18.

The bend 16 also carries a target 18 proectlng laterally from both side; thereof.

Upon rocking the shaft 8, the bend 16 isswung in a vertical plane, transversely of the vehicle, and the light and the target may therefore be swung over to the right or the left to indicate the direction the vehicle is about to turn. Normally, the target is in vertical position, the same indicating thatthe vehicle is going straight ahead. If a turn' is to be made, the target will be swung down into horizontal position,-either to the right or the left, according to the direction the vehicle is goingto turn.

The contacts 10 and 13 are so arranged that the circuit is broken when the bend 16 is in vertical position, but when the shaft 8 is rocked to swing the target and lamp to the right or to the left, said contacts come togetherand thus close the circuit to turn on the lamp. To the contacts 10 are connected conductors 19 leading from a suitable current source.

v The forward end of the shaft 8 extends to the corresponding end of the vehicle, and is provided with a suitable operating lever 20, within reach of the driver.

. A spring 21, secured at one end to the bottom of thebody 5, and at its other end to a clamp 22 fastened to. the shaft 8, serve-s to hold the bend16 normally in vertical position, the action of the lever 20 being against said spring in either direction, so that the spring restores the parts to their normal posit-ion after the signal has been given.

I claim: i 1. The combination with avehicle, of a support thereon, a rock shaft carried by the support, a set collar on theshaft and enageable with one end of the support, an lnsulating disk on the shaft adjacent to the other end of the support, contacts on the disk, an insulation disk on the support and having contacts, resilient means for holding the last mentioned disk in contact with the first mentioned disk, the contacts of said disks being on their contiguous faces and normally out of engagement, and an electric signal device carried by the shaft and noimally in vertical position, said signal device swingin transversely of the vehicle feces and normally out of engagement, and an electric signal device carried by the sliatt and normally in Vertical position, said sig- 1b nal device swinging transversely of the vehicle when the shaft is rocked.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses FRANK B. MILLS.

Witnesses! HORTON MILLS, H. G. BATCHELOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

